Nigeria’s Obinna Ekezie Named Defensive MVP at BWB Global Showcase
As African Talents Earn Honours at 10th Annual Basketball Without Borders Camp
Seven of Africa’s brightest basketball prospects showcased their talent at the 10th Annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) All-Star Camp, held this past weekend at the UCLA Health Center, also home to the Los Angeles Lakers training facility.
Nigeria’s Obinna Ekezie, son of former NBA player Obinna Ekezie Sr., emerged as one of the standout performers, earning the Defensive MVP award and a place on the All-Star Team.
He was joined by Cheickh Niang of Italy, with ties to Senegal, and Caleb Ourigou of Côte d’Ivoire. Other African representatives included Franck Belibi of Cameroon, Peter Julius of Nigeria, Noah El Baze of Morocco, and Ramsey Guessagba-Sato of the Central African Republic, a BWB Africa 2025 Boys All-Star and NBA Academy Africa prospect.
The camp brought together 40 international prospects from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania for four days of athletic testing, skill development, 3-on-3 competitions, life-skills seminars, and 5-on-5 games.
Participants trained under the guidance of current and former NBA and FIBA players, legends, and coaches, including Italy’s Danilo Gallinari and James Gist.
Several members of the NBA Coaching Development Program (CDP) also served as camp coaches, among them former NBA players Scotty Hopson, Khalid El-Amin, and Craig Smith, alongside former WNBA player Meighan Simmons.
Camp directors included Patrick Hunt, President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches, Chris Ebersole, Director of Player Development and Experience for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Luca Desta, longtime NBA front office executive from Ethiopia.
